Eugen Bopp struck a second-half winner to secure Nottingham Forest a precious
victory against nine-man Stoke and boost their fight against relegation.
Acting Forest manager Mick Harford had seen his side struggle to penetrate
Stoke's dogged defence prior to Bopp's 68th-minute clincher.
The Potters, who have only conceded just 19 goals in 27 games following this
defeat, typically defended bravely, but their impotency in attack again proved
an Achilles heel.
And midfielder Bopp converted Andy Reid's fine cross to secure the points for
the hosts before Stoke defenders Clint Hill and Clive Clarke were dismissed in
the closing stages.
Stoke had travelled to the City Ground aiming to get their promotion bid back
on track following a disappointing goalless home draw with Preston and 1-0
defeat at Ipswich.
Potters chief Tony Pulis responded to the Portman Road reverse by dropping
Gifton Noel-Williams to the bench and replacing him with Chris Greenacre.
Greenacre formed a three-pronged attack alongside Ade Akinbiyi and Carl Asaba,
while Karl Henry came in for thigh-injury victim Dave Brammer.
Forest made two changes from the side which slumped to a 2-1 defeat at home to
Sunderland four days earlier, with Chris Doig replacing suspended defender
Gregor Robertson and Gareth Taylor coming in for the dropped David Johnson.
But it was the visitors who began the brighter of the two sides and barely two
minutes had passed before Akinbiyi fired in a fierce effort from the edge of the
box which Forest 'keeper Paul Gerrard was forced to tip over.
The visitors continued to press and Michael Duberry's dangerous cross was well
cleared by Wes Morgan.
But Stoke's struggles were typified in the 21st minute when Clarke delivered a
superb free-kick and Akinbiyi contrived to direct his header wide from just six
yards.
Forest edged their way into the game and the impressive Reid narrowly missed
the target with a delightful free-kick, before Taylor sent a header wide from
the Republic of Ireland star's teasing cross.
The tempo increased after the interval and the impressive Shaun Derry drilled
in a 35-yard effort which Stoke 'keeper Steve Simonsen held comfortably.
Asaba then tested Gerrard with an 18-yard effort which Gerrard was again equal
to.
The former Oldham and Everton 'keeper was tested a minute later by Wayne
Thomas's drilled effort, but clear-cut chances remained few and far between.
As the second half wore on, Stoke began to emerge as the game's dominant force
but they typically struggled to find the cutting edge required to pierce their
opponents' backline.
Reid's delightful cross saw several players attempt to divert the ball
goalwards, but it was Bopp who emerged to fire the ball home right-footed to
make the all-important breakthrough.
Suitably inspired, Forest regained a foothold on the game and Duberry was soon
forced to clear from Bopp's dangerous cross.
Greenacre then tested Gerrard from distance before Pulis replaced Asaba with
Noel-Williams in the hope of finding a greater goal threat.
But it was not forthcoming and Hill was dismissed for a second bookable
offence before Clarke saw red in the last minute for foul and abusive language
to cap the visitors' misery.
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